How At Home Caregivers Maintain Bathroom Safety in Bangor and Auburn, ME

For seniors, a slip or trip can have serious health consequences. Because seniors tend to have existing conditions and a slower ability to heal, what would have resulted in just a bruised ego years before can mean hospitalization and intensive care for the elderly. That is why the at home caregivers of Visiting Angels Mid Maine are trained to help your family improve your loved one’s surroundings, increase the safety of their home, and help every step of the way.

How Our At Home Caregivers Increase Your Loved One’s In-Home Safety in Bangor and Auburn

Among all trip and fall injuries, those over the age of 65 have the highest resulting injury rate, including fractures, concussions, and hurt joints, bones, and muscles. Our at home caregivers know that the bathroom is a common site for these kinds of injuries. Slick surfaces and a small space can create dangerous situations for a senior whose mobility, balance, or fragile health puts them at risk.

Our at home caregivers will help you focus on the senior home care services that are right for your loved one. These are our most common recommendations:

• Install grab bars. Grab bars are helpful for some of the more dangerous maneuvers your loved one does in the bathroom, like getting onto and off the toilet, or into and out of the tub or shower. Having something sturdy to hold onto can make a big difference in your loved one’s ability to take care of themselves safely.
• Add sticky or non-slip pads. Found at any home improvement store, these are usually made of plastic or rubber and increase the grip available on any surface. You might have used them on the floor of your tub before; they can be used safely on any tile, porcelain, or other surface that becomes slick.
• Focus on accessibility. You may not be able to increase the size of your loved one’s bathroom but finding ways for them to have more space to move in can be helpful in making the bathroom a safer place. Focus on decreasing clutter, removing any loose rugs, and ensuring a safe pathway into and through the bathroom.
• Add mobility tools. Depending on your loved one’s individual circumstances, there are many tools for use in the bathroom that can help. A stool in the shower, a sturdy step into the tub, and other items can increase your loved one’s ability to move around in the bathroom safely.
• Improve visibility. Nightlights and glow-in-the-dark fixtures can help keep nighttime bathroom needs safe. Increasing the amount of light overall in the bathroom can help your loved one see wet spots or obstacles and react accordingly.
• Monitor hot water temperatures. As we age, our skin becomes more delicate. Your loved one’s water heater should be set to a maximum of 120 degrees F. Keeping up with the maintenance of the hot water heater, furnace, and other home appliances is integral to your loved one’s health.

Does Your Loved One Need Assistance in the Bathroom?

If you are helping to care for an aging loved one who lives alone, Visiting Angels Mid Maine is your trusted resource for in home care. Call our agency today to learn more about how our at home caregivers can keep seniors safe in the bathroom.